With his contract with the Ottawa Senators coming to an end, Mikkel Bødker is going to leave North America to join HC Lugano for the next two seasons. The 30-year-old has recorded four points in 20 games this season with the Senators, which he joined in 2018 on a trade from the San Jose Sharks. With this signing, HC Lugano has now three import-forwards under contract for the 2020-21 season, the other two being Mark Arcobello (
), and Jani Lajunen (
).
The winger is looking forward to this experience: "I heard that the fans are exceptional and very passionate. I am very motivated for the challenge that awaits me in Switzerland and I hope that together we can realize something great."
Hnat Domenichelli, team manager of HCL, is also happy about this signing: "He is a complete forward who has played twelve seasons in the NHL and will certainly be an important reinforcement for our team. Hardly his current team, the Ottawa Senators, will play the playoffs of the 2019-20 season in the NHL. If so, we'll be waiting for him."
The eighth overall choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft has played in the NHL for his whole professional career, except for two stints with the San Antonio Rampage, the Phoenix Coyotes' AHL affiliate back then, and a half-season with Lukko Rauma during the 2012-13 lockout.
Overall, Bødker has played 743 games in the NHL, mostly for the Coyotes, the team that drafted him, scoring 124 goals and collecting 220 assists. Moreover, he regularly suits up for the Danish national team.
